Mickelson Makes The Biggest Move

Shoots 69 For Share Of Lead With Ferrie

June 18, 2006|By BRUCE BERLET; Courant Staff Writer

MAMARONECK, N.Y. — Tiger Woods sailing out of town after missing the cut Friday sucked some of the buzz out of the U.S. Open. Then, for most of Saturday, Winged Foot Golf Club slowed the cadence of ``moving day'' on the PGA Tour.

Even with winds diminished and pin placements more generous, the course won again.

First, the red numbers (for under par) disappeared. Then green (even par) was nowhere to be found -- leaving black as the only color on the scoreboard.

It was shaping up as a gray day.

Suddenly, however, the favorite of New York golf fans put some excitement into the proceedings.

Phil Mickelson birdied two of the last five holes and barely missed from 10 feet at No. 18, matching the day's low score with a 1-under-par 69. That left him tied for the third-round lead at 2-over 212 when upstart Englishman Kenneth Ferrie three-putted the 18th.

``I'm very excited and happy to have fought hard on the back nine to get back into contention,'' said Mickelson, whose wife, Amy, and three children came from California to celebrate his 36th birthday Friday. ``Patience is very key in this tournament. A lot of pars over six, seven, eight holes are going to move you up the board.''

Mickelson's swing, which finally clicked on his second shot at No. 9, was helped by a new 64-degree sand wedge that has saved him several times through 54 holes.

``I obviously didn't strike it on the front nine the way I wanted and was playing from the rough and fighting for pars on a lot of holes,'' he said. ``I was able to hang in there and then turned it around and was happy to get two birdies. [Today] should be a fun day.''

As most of the field staggered, Mickelson made birdie putts of 6 and 20 feet at Nos. 14 and 16. He got a piece of the lead when the free-spirited Ferrie three-putted from the fringe at 18 -- 30 feet away. He missed a 6-foot comebacker and wound up shooting 71.

Mickelson, No. 2 in the world, is trying to join Woods, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus as the only players to win three straight majors.

Despite two bogeys in the last six holes, Ferrie sounded like Popeye, often saying, ``I am what I am,'' while trying to explain a recent run-in with fellow European Tour player Paul McGinley.

Ferrie, 33, started the day two behind Steve Stricker and took the lead by hitting a 4-iron to 6 inches for eagle 3 at No. 5.

Ranked 102nd in the world, he is in position to become the first European to win the U.S. Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970.

``I'm going to do what I'm going to do,'' Ferrie said. ``I'm going to try and play the way I have the last few days. Obviously, Phil is going to be the huge favorite. Nobody is really going to give me a chance of winning with Phil moving this way up through the field. But if I can do what I've done the last few days and get a few breaks to go my way, there's no reason I can't be up there.''

Aussie Geoff Oglivy is one behind the leaders. He bogeyed 13 and 14, then parred in for a 72. Stricker birdied No. 5 to get to 2 under but was 7 over the last 13 holes, shooting 76 and falling into a tie for fourth with Vijay Singh (70), Ian Poulter (70) and Colin Montgomerie (75), who rallied from a bogey-bogey-double bogey-bogey start.

Padraig Harrington was tied for third at 3 over until a triple-bogey 7 at No. 18 dropped him into a share of eighth at 216.

They'll all be trying to catch two men from opposite spectrums of the golf world -- though each had similar thoughts on what lies ahead today.

``It's kind of the biggest test there is in golf -- of every part of your game,'' said Ferrie, a two-time European Tour winner playing in his fourth major but first U.S. Open. ``I wouldn't say I've passed yet, but I'm kind of well on my way to getting a decent grade.''

Mickelson, who spent 70 hours prepping for the Open with swing coach Rick Smith and short-game expert Dave Pelz, has a chance to go 4-for-10 in the majors after an 0-for-46 start.

``One time every year we get tested like this, and I love it,'' said Mickelson, a three-time Open runner-up. ``I love being tested at the highest level of the most difficult and sometimes ridiculous golf course setups we'll ever see. I love it because I get to find out where my game is at, where my head is at, and it really challenges me as a player.

``We can't do this very often. It kills the golf course. A lot of greens won't survive, so we don't have a chance to do it very often. But I think it's great we do it once a year.''